Freezing felines

Cold brew coffee is pretty much what it sounds like: Coffee brewed with — or steeped in, to be precise — cold water. It’s then served chilled, over ice. The absence of contact with hot water results in a coffee that’s smooth, sweet and noticeably less bitter than coffee brewed hot.

Java Cat, 3918 Monona Dr., is a friendly spot and one I’d driven past for too long before stopping in. Co-owner Renee Raspiller gives a lot of credit for Java Cat’s cold brew to the folks at Just Coffee, who supply the shop’s beans. “They have some really talented people over there. They really know what they’re doing,” she says.

What Just Coffee has done here with its Cold Brew Blend is to balance Colombian, Bolivian and Sumatran beans, roasting them to a perfect darkness, ensuring that flavors stay bold, even when ice is added to the final product.

Nearly opaque and without any wateriness, Java Cat’s cold brew is remarkably smooth — even without cream. Flavors of malt and chocolate intensify when cream is added.

“We’re told all the time that we have the best iced coffee,” Raspiller says, a smile on her face. I can’t disagree.